Table 4

Statistical methods


BMJ
BJGP
Family Practice
Overall


Methods
n
(%)
n
(%)
n
(%)
n
(%)

No statistics or simple summaries
23
(29.1)
47
(32.4)
33
(40.7)
103
(33.8)
Chi-squared tests
13
(16.5)
40
(27.6)
19
(23.5)
72
(23.6)
t-tests
7
(8.9)
22
(15.2)
17
(21.0)
46
(15.1)
Logistic regression
14
(17.7)
19
(13.1)
11
(13.6)
44
(14.4)
Nonparametric
11
(13.9)
24
(16.6)
4
(4.9)
39
(12.8)
Odds ratios/relative risks
11
(13.9)
13
(9.0)
14
(17.3)
38
(12.5)
Regression
9
(11.4)
10
(6.9)
11
(13.6)
30
(9.8)
Sample size/power
6
(7.6)
17
(11.7)
3
(3.7)
26
(8.5)
Summaries with CIs
9
(11.4)
3
(2.1)
6
(7.4)
18
(5.9)
Kappa
2
(2.5)
9
(6.2)
4
(4.9)
15
(4.9)
Sensitivity/specificity
4
(5.1)
10
(6.9)
1
(1.2)
15
(4.9)
Pearson correlation
2
(2.5)
6
(4.1)
6
(7.4)
14
(4.6)
Multiple comparisons
2
(2.5)
4
(2.8)
4
(4.9)
10
(3.3)
ANOVA
5
(6.3)
4
(2.8)


9
(3.0)
Mantel-Haenszel
1
(1.3)
5
(3.4)
2
(2.5)
8
(2.6)
Random effects models
4
(5.1)
4
(2.8)


8
(2.6)
Cronbach's alpha
1
(1.3)
5
(3.4)
1
(1.2)
7
(2.3)
Fisher's exact test


7
(4.8)


7
(2.3)
Likelihood ratio
3
(3.8)
3
(2.1)


6
(2.0)
Survival analysis
6
(7.6)




6
(2.0)
Other
4
(5.1)
37
(25.2)
10
(12.3)
51
(16.7)
Total articles
79

145

81

305


Notes

CIs = confidence intervals.

ANOVA = analysis of variance.

Rigby et al. BMC Medical Research Methodology 2004 4:28   doi:10.1186/1471-2288-4-28